Cysteine-specific radioiodination of proteins with fluorescein maleimide

Visible-Light-Mediated Radical Arylations Using a Fluorescein-Derived Diazonium Salt: Reactions Proceeding via an Intramolecular Forth and Back Electron Transfer

Functionalizations of arenes and alkenes via additive-free radical reactions using highly photosensitive, fluorescein-derived diazonium salts are described. The particular properties of the diazonium salts enable unique Meerwein-type carbohydroxylations of non-activated alkenes, which can be rationalized by a reaction mechanism involving forth and back electron transfer from and to the xanthene subunit of the fluorescein moiety.

Efficient and Site-Specific 125I-Radioiodination of Bioactive Molecules Using Oxidative Condensation Reaction

In this report, the novel and site-specific radioiodination of biomolecules by using aryl diamine and alkyl aldehyde condensation reaction in the presence of a Cu²⁺ catalyst under ambient conditions was reported. ¹²⁵I-labeled alkyl aldehyde was synthesized using a tin precursor with a high radiochemical yield (72 ± 6%, n = 5) and radiochemical purity (>99%). The utility of the radioiodinated precursor was demonstrated through aryl diamine-installed c[RGDfK(C)] peptide and human serum albumin (HSA). Radioiodinated c[RGDfK(C)] peptide and HSA protein were synthesized with high radiochemical yields and purity. ¹²⁵I-HSA protein showed excellent in vivo stability and negligible thyroid uptake as compared with directly radioiodinated HSA by using the tyrosine group. Excellent reaction kinetics and the in vitro and in vivo stabilities of ¹²⁵I-labeled alkyl aldehyde have suggested the usefulness of the strategy for the radioiodination of bioactive molecules.

Accelerated tissue integration into porous materials by immobilizing basic fibroblast growth factor using a biologically safe three-step reaction

Soft tissue integration into a porous structure is important to prevent bacterial infection of percutaneous devices and improve tissue regeneration using porous scaffolds. Here, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was immobilized on porous polymer materials using a mild and biologically safe three-step reaction: (1) modification with a novel surface-modification peptide (penta-lysine-mussel adhesive sequence, which reacts with various matrices), (2) electrostatic binding of heparin with introduced penta-lysine, and (3) biologically specific binding of bFGF to heparin. Porous polyethylene specimens (PPSs) (D = 6.0 mm, H = 2.0 mm) with a good size for tissue integration were selected as a base material, immobilized with bFGF, and subcutaneously implanted into mice. Half of the unmodified PPSs extruded out of the body on day 112 postimplantation; however, the three-step reaction completely prevented sample rejection. Tissue integration was greatly accelerated by immobilizing bFGF. Direct physical coating of bFGF on PPS resulted in greater immobilization but lesser tissue integration than that after the three-step bFGF immobilization, indicating that heparin binds and enhances bFGF efficacy. This three-step bFGF immobilization reaction will be applicable to various polymeric, metallic, and ceramic materials and is a simple strategy to integrate tissue on porous medical devices or scaffolds for tissue regeneration.

Site-specific N-terminal labeling of proteins using sortase-mediated reactions

This protocol describes the use of sortase-mediated reactions to label the N terminus of any given protein of interest. The sortase recognition sequence, LPXTG (for Streptococcus aureus sortase A) or LPXTA (for Staphylococcus pyogenes sortase A), can be appended to a variety of probes such as fluorophores, biotin or even to other proteins. The protein to be labeled acts as a nucleophile by attacking the intermediate formed between the probe containing the LPXTG/A motif and the sortase enzyme. If sortase, the protein of interest and a suitably functionalized label are available, the reactions usually require less than 3 h.

Synthesis, characterization, photophysical properties, and biological labeling studies of a series of luminescent rhenium(I) polypyridine maleimide complexes

We report the synthesis, characterization, and photophysical properties of a series of rhenium(I) polypyridine maleimide complexes [Re(N-N)(CO)(3)(py-3-mal)](CF(3)SO(3)) [N-N = 1,10-phenanthroline, phen (1), 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 2,9-Me(2)-phen (2), 3,4,7,8-tetramethyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 3,4,7,8-Me(4)-phen (3), 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 4,7-Ph(2)-phen (4), 2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline, 2,9-Me(2)-4,7-Ph(2)-phen (5), 2,2'-biquinonine, biq (6); py-3-mal = N-(3-pyridyl)maleimide]. The X-ray crystal structure of complex 2 has been investigated. Upon excitation, the complexes exhibit intense and long-lived photoluminescence in fluid solutions at 298 K. The emission wavelengths range from 514 to 654 nm, and the emission lifetimes fall in the microsecond time scale. The luminescence is assigned to originate from a metal-to-ligand charge-transfer MLCT [dpi(Re) --> pi*(diimine)] triplet excited state. As the maleimide group can react with the sulfhydryl group to form a stable thioether moiety, these complexes have been used as thiol-specific luminescent labels for a thiolated oligonucleotide, glutathione, and bovine serum albumin and human serum albumin. The photoluminescence properties of the labeled biological species have also been investigated.

Assembly mechanism of the oligomeric streptolysin O pore: the early membrane lesion is lined by a free edge of the lipid membrane and is extended gradually during oligomerization

Streptolysin O (SLO) is a bacterial exotoxin that binds to cell membranes containing cholesterol and then oligomerizes to form large pores. Along with rings, arc-shaped oligomers form on membranes. It has been suggested that each arc represents an incompletely assembled oligomer and constitutes a functional pore, faced on the opposite side by a free edge of the lipid membrane. We sought functional evidence in support of this idea by using an oligomerization-deficient, non-lytic mutant of SLO. This protein, which was created by chemical modification of a single mutant cysteine (T250C) with N-(iodoacetaminoethyl)-1-naphthylamine-5-sulfonic acid, formed hybrid oligomers with active SLO on membranes. However, incorporation of the modified T250C mutant inhibited subsequent oligomerization, so that the hybrid oligomers were reduced in size. These appeared as typical arc lesions in the electron microscope. They formed pores that permitted passage of NaCl and calcein but restricted permeation of large dextran molecules. The data indicate that the SLO pore is formed gradually during oligomerization, implying that pores lined by protein on one side and an edge of free lipid on the other may be created in the plasma membrane. Intentional manipulation of the pore size may extend the utility of SLO as a tool in cell biological experiments.